Film Review: ‘Into the Woods’
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski, Johnny Depp
Age Restriction: PG
Genre: Fantasy, Musical
Runtime: 124 minutes
Release date: 1 January 2015
Adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, Into the Woods features well-known fairytale characters such as Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy), Jack [and the Beanstalk] (Daniel Huttlestone) etc.
But the main plot of the film focuses on the Baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who are unable to have children due to a curse that was placed upon the Baker’s family years before by a wicked witch (Meryl Streep).
Knowing of their desire to have a child, the witch appears to the Baker and his wife and offers them a deal in exchange for lifting the curse. The deal is that they have to venture into the woods and retrieve four items for the witch. The four items: a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold.
Desperate for children of their own, the couple comply with the witch’s demands and venture into the woods where their journey intertwines with the other fairytale character’s stories.
Despite the film’s first two acts being somewhat predictable and clichéd, the film’s plot was well executed as it was an absolute joy to watch even though we knew how it was all going to unfold. Things take an unexpected turn in the film’s third act which features a plot twist that completely changes the film as a whole. The tone is altered from light-hearted to dark and from humorous to serious.
By turning things around in the third act, it adds that innovative flair into the film as it allows for the unexpected. The fairytale characters also end up making real-life decisions in this act which adds that realistic real-life approach into a fairytale film with the notion that "Happily Ever After’s are imperfect" and can only remain ‘happy’ with the right choices.
Into the Woods is a musical, so expect lots of singing as the film offers a vast amount of songs which should leave audiences optimistic as most of them gladly are memorable.
The dialogue will amuse audiences with its quirky and witty charm, and expect to laugh as Into the Woods offers hilarity throughout. And if the film isn’t already wonderful enough, it offers impressive visuals and a set design so magical that it’s a feast for the eyes.
Into the Woods is filled with an A-list cast who all bring their a-game to the table as the performances were all stellar with some deemed Oscar worthy. I’m definitely talking about Meryl Streep who once again proves why she’s the most talented actress in the world right now. Streep once again does not disappoint as she steals the show as the wicked witch which has already garnered her multi award nominations including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress with an Oscar nod waiting in the horizon.
The only downfall of Into the Woods is that while it’s a great film, it lacks that extra magical oomph that would’ve made it into that instant classic we were all expecting.
All in all, Into the Woods is a fun four star adventure filled with amazing performances (particularly Streep’s), memorable melodies, catchy dialogue and comedy that’ll have you giggling with laughter.
